Gaming device having poker lock and improve feature

ABSTRACT

Embodiments of the present invention set forth systems, apparatuses and methods for providing a lock and improve feature in gaming devices. Accordingly, a gaming device can be configured to include a video poker game where items associated with cards in poker hand, or card positions where the cards in the poker hand are displayed, can be locked, held, stuck, or otherwise maintained and a secondary game event is played where additional items can be received. The items may provide credits, bonus opportunities, progressives, multipliers, or other types of awards, modifiers, or beneficial game enhancements.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of Provisional Patent ApplicationNo. 62/771,020, filed on Nov. 23, 2018, Provisional Patent ApplicationNo. 62/771,018, filed on Nov. 23, 2018, and Provisional PatentApplication No. 62/771,017, filed on Nov. 23, 2018, to all of whichpriority is claimed pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) and which all areincorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This disclosure relates generally to games, and more particularly tosystems, apparatuses and methods for providing a gaming device with apoker lock and improve feature.

BACKGROUND

Casino games such as poker, slots, and craps have long been enjoyed as ameans of entertainment. Some of these games originated using traditionalelements such as playing cards or dice. More recently, gaming deviceshave been developed to simulate and/or further enhance these games whileremaining entertaining. The popularity of casino gambling with wageringcontinues to increase, as does recreational gambling such asnon-wagering computer game gambling. Part of this popularity is theincreased development of new types of games that are implemented, atleast in part, on gaming devices.

One reason that casino games are widely developed for gaming devices isthat a wide variety of games can be implemented on gaming devices,thereby providing an array of choices for players looking to gamble. Forexample, the graphics and sounds included in such games can be modifiedto reflect popular subjects, such as movies and television shows. Gameplay rules and types of games can also vary greatly providing manydifferent styles of gambling. Additionally, gaming devices requireminimal supervision to operate on a casino floor, or in other gamblingenvironments. That is, as compared to traditional casino games thatrequire a dealer, banker, stickman, pit managers, etc., gaming devicesneed much less employee attention to operate.

With the ability to provide new content, players have come to expect theavailability of an ever-wider selection of new games when visitingcasinos and other gaming venues. Playing new games adds to theexcitement of “gaming.” As is well known in the art and as used herein,the term “gaming” and “gaming devices” generally involves some form ofwagering, and that players make wagers of value, whether actual currencyor something else of value, e.g., token or credit. Wagering-type gamesusually provide rewards based on random chance as opposed to skill,although some skill may be an element in some types of games. Sincerandom chance is a significant component of these games, they aresometimes referred to as “games of chance.”

The present disclosure describes methods, systems, and apparatus thatprovide for new and interesting gaming experiences, and that provideother advantages over the prior art.

SUMMARY

To overcome limitations in the prior art described above, and toovercome other limitations that will become apparent upon reading andunderstanding the present specification, embodiments of the presentinvention are directed to an apparatus, system, computer readablestorage media, and/or method that involve or otherwise facilitate apoker item feature on gaming devices.

In one embodiment, a gaming device includes a video poker game whereitems associated with cards in poker hand, or card positions where thecards in the poker hand are displayed, can be credits, bonusopportunities, progressives, multipliers, or other types of awards,modifiers, or beneficial game enhancements.

In another embodiment, a gaming device includes a video poker game whereitems associated with cards in poker hand, or card positions where thecards in the poker hand are displayed, can be locked, held, stuck, orotherwise maintained and a secondary game event is played whereadditional items can be received. The items may provide credits, bonusopportunities, progressives, multipliers, or other types of awards,modifiers, or beneficial game enhancements.

In yet another embodiment, a player may place additional wagers toactivate card positions or card columns. If specific cards orsub-symbols associated with cards appear in an activated card positionor column, the player may be awarded the credit value, multiplier value,or game modifier shown on the sub-symbols or that are part of asecondary paytable, or a secondary bonus feature may be initiated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram of a gaming machine according to embodiments of theinvention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a computing arrangement accordingto embodiments of the invention

FIG. 3 is a detail diagram of a gaming device display showing a lock andimprove feature according to embodiments of the invention.

FIGS. 4A, 4B, and 4C are detail diagrams of a gaming device displayshowing a game progression according to embodiments of the invention.

FIGS. 5A, 5B, 5C, 5D, and 5E are detail diagrams of a gaming devicedisplay showing a game progression according to embodiments of theinvention.

FIGS. 6A, 6B, 6C, 6D, 6E, 6F, 6G, 6H, 6I, 6J, and 6K are detail diagramsof a gaming device display showing a game progression according toembodiments of the invention.

FIG. 7 is a flow diagram showing a method of operating a gaming deviceaccording to embodiments of the invention.

FIGS. 8A and 8B are detail diagrams of a gaming device display showing agame progression according to embodiments of the invention.

FIGS. 9A, 9B, 9C, 9D, 9E, and 9F are detail diagrams of a gaming devicedisplay showing a game progression according to embodiments of theinvention.

FIGS. 10A, 10B, 10C, 10D, 10E, 10F, 10G, 10H, and 10I are detaildiagrams of a gaming device display showing a game progression accordingto embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 11 is a flow diagram showing a method of operating a gaming deviceaccording to embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 12 is a detail diagram of a gaming device display according toembodiments of the invention.

FIG. 13 is a detail diagram of a gaming device display according toembodiments of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following description of various exemplary embodiments, referenceis made to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof, and inwhich is shown by way of illustration representative embodiments inwhich the features described herein may be practiced. It is to beunderstood that other embodiments may be utilized, as structural andoperational changes may be made without departing from the scope of thedisclosure.

In the description that follows, the terms “reels,” “cards,” “decks,”and similar mechanically descriptive language may be used to describevarious apparatus presentation features, as well as various actionsoccurring to those objects (e.g., “spin,” “draw,” “hold,” “bet”).Although the present disclosure may be applicable to manual, mechanical,and/or computerized embodiments, as well as any combinationtherebetween, the use of mechanically descriptive terms is not meant tobe only applicable to mechanical embodiments. Those skilled in the artwill understand that, for purposes of providing gaming experiences toplayers, mechanical elements such as cards, reels, and the like may besimulated on a display in order to provide a familiar and satisfyingexperience that emulates the behavior of mechanical objects, as well asemulating actions that occur in the non-computerized games (e.g.,spinning, holding, drawing, betting). Further, the computerized versionmay provide the look of mechanical equivalents but may be generallyrandomized in a different way. Thus, the terms “cards,” “decks,”“reels,” “hands,” etc., are intended to describe both physical objectsand emulation or simulations of those objects and their behaviors usingelectronic apparatus.

In various embodiments of the invention, the gaming displays aredescribed in conjunction with the use of data in the form of “symbols.”In the context of this disclosure, a “symbol” may generally refer atleast to a collection of one or more arbitrary indicia or signs thathave some conventional significance. In particular, the symbolrepresents values that can at least be used to determine whether toaward a payout. A symbol may include numbers, letters, shapes, pictures,textures, colors, sounds, etc., and any combination therebetween. A wincan be determined by comparing the symbol with another symbol.Generally, such comparisons can be performed via software by mappingnumbers (or other data structures such as character strings) to thesymbols and performing the comparisons on the numbers/data structures.Other conventions associated with known games (e.g., the numericalvalue/ordering of face cards and aces in card games) may also beprogrammatically analyzed to determine winning combinations.

Generally, systems, apparatuses and methods are described for providinga lock and improve feature in gaming devices, which may, for example,enhance winning result opportunities in gaming activities. The systems,apparatuses and methods described herein may be implemented as a singlegame, or part of a multi-part game. For example, the game featuresdescribed herein may be implemented in primary gaming activities, bonusgames, side bet games or other secondary games associated with a primarygaming activity. The game features may be implemented in stand-alonegames, multi-player games, etc. Further, the disclosure may be appliedto games of chance, and descriptions provided in the context of anyrepresentative game (e.g. video poker game) is provided for purposes offacilitating an understanding of the features described herein. However,the principles described herein are equally applicable to any game ofchance where an outcome(s) is determined for use in the player's gamingactivity.

Embodiments of the present concept include providing gaming devices(also referred to as gaming apparatuses or gaming machines), gamingsystems, and methods of operating these devices or systems to providegame play that utilizes operations to provide a lock and improve featurein gaming devices. In one embodiment, a gaming device includes a videopoker game where items associated with cards in poker hand, or cardpositions where the cards in the poker hand are displayed, can belocked, held, stuck, or otherwise maintained and a secondary game eventis played where additional items can be received. The items may providecredits, bonus opportunities, progressives, multipliers, or other typesof awards, modifiers, or beneficial game enhancements.

Numerous variations are possible using these and other embodiments ofthe inventive concept. Some of these embodiments and variations arediscussed below with reference to the drawings. However, many otherembodiments and variations exist that are covered by the principles andscope of this concept. For example, although some of the embodimentsdiscussed below involve reel-based slot machine examples of thisconcept, other embodiments include application of these inventivetechniques in other types of poker games, slot games, or other games ofchance. Some of these other types of embodiments will be discussed belowas variations to the examples illustrated. However, many other types ofgames can implement similar techniques and fall within the scope of thisinventive concept.

Referring to the example gaming apparatus 100 shown in FIG. 1, thegaming apparatus includes a display area 102 (also referred to as agaming display), and a player interface area 104, although some or allof the interactive mechanisms included in the user interface area 104may be provided via graphical icons used with a touch screen in thedisplay area 102 in some embodiments. The display area 102 may includeone or more game displays 106 (also referred to as “displays” or “gamingdisplays”) that may be included in physically separate displays or asportions of a common large display. Here, the game display 106 includesa primary game play portion 108 that displays game elements and symbols110, and an operations portion 109 that can include meters, various gamebuttons, or other game information for a player of the gaming device100.

The user interface 104 allows the user to control and engage in play ofthe gaming machine 100. The particular user interface mechanismsincluded with user interface 104 may be dependent on the type of gamingdevice. For example, the user interface 104 may include one or morebuttons, switches, joysticks, levers, pull-down handles, trackballs,voice-activated input, or any other user input system or mechanism thatallows the user to play the particular gaming activity. In video pokerembodiments, for example, the user interface 104 may include fivephysical buttons that correspond to displayed card positions and allow aplayer to hold (or un-hold) particular cards in a draw poker hand. Theuser interface 104 may also include a physical “Deal/Draw” button thatallows a player to initiate a new game by having cards dealt to the cardpositions or draw replacement cards after having the opportunity to holdany of the dealt cards. In other poker games, keno games, slot games, orother games of chance different button panels or configurations may beused.

The user interface 104 may allow the user or player to enter coins,bills, or otherwise obtain credits through vouchers, tokens, creditcards, tickets, etc. Various mechanisms for entering such vouchers,tokens, credit cards, coins, tickets, etc. are described below withreference to FIG. 2. For example, currency input mechanisms, cardreaders, credit card readers, smart card readers, punch card readers,radio frequency identifier (RFID) readers, and other mechanisms may beused to enter wagers. The user interface 104 may also include amechanism to read and/or validate player loyalty information to identifya user or player of the gaming device. This mechanism may be cardreader, biometric scanner, keypad, or other input device. It is throughthe user interface 104 that the player can initiate and engage in gamingactivities. While the illustrated embodiment depicts various buttons forthe user interface 104, it should be recognized that a wide variety ofuser interface options are available for use in connection with thepresent invention, including pressing buttons, touching a segment of atouch-screen, entering text, entering voice commands, or other knowndata entry methodology.

The game display 106 in the display area 102 may include one or more ofan electronic display, a video display, a mechanical display, and fixeddisplay information, such as paytable information associated with aglass/plastic panel on the gaming machine 100 and/or graphical images.The symbols or other indicia associated with the play of the game may bepresented on an electronic display device or on mechanical devicesassociated with a mechanical display. Generally, the display 106 devotesthe largest portion of viewable area to the primary gaming portion 108.The primary gaming portion 108 is generally where the visual feedbackfor any selected game is provided to the user. The primary gamingportion 108 may render graphical objects such as cards, slot reels,dice, animated characters, and any other gaming visual known in the art.The primary gaming portion 108 also typically informs players of theoutcome of any particular event, including whether the event resulted ina win or loss.

In some of the example embodiments illustrated herein, the primarygaming portion 108 may display a grid (or equivalent arrangement) ofplaying cards 110 forming a hand. Here, the grid includes a row of fiveplaying cards 110 forming a video poker hand, which represents a portionof a game play event. For example, if the game play event is a videodraw poker game, the gaming device 100 may deal five cards, allow theuser to select which cards to hold, deal replacements for the cards notheld, and determine a payout based on the final cards in the hand. Theillustration and description of five-card-draw poker is for purposes ofexample and not of limitation; the present invention may be applicableto numerous other card games, such as stud poker or hold'em poker, aswell as other types of gaming activities and apparatuses, such as slotmachines, dice, coins, etc.

The primary gaming portion 108 may include other features known in theart that facilitate gaming, such as status and control portion 109. Asis generally known in the art, this portion 109 provides informationabout current bets, current wins, remaining credits, etc. associatedwith gaming activities of the grid of game elements 110. The controlportion 109 may also provide touchscreen controls for facilitating gameplay. The grid of game elements 110 may also include touchscreenfeatures, such as facilitating selection of individual cards for holdingprior to draw of new cards. The game display 106 of the display area 102may include other features that are not shown, such as paytables,navigation controls, etc.

In other example embodiments, the primary gaming portion 108 may displaya grid (or equivalent arrangement) of game elements or game elementpositions (also referred to as “reel stop positions” herein). Althoughnot shown in FIG. 1, the grid may include three rows and five columns ofgame elements, which may form a game outcome of a game play event fromwhich prizes are determined. In some slot machine examples, each columnmay display a portion of a game reel. The game reels may include acombination of game symbols in a predefined order. In mechanicalexamples, the game reels may include physical reel strips where gamesymbols are shown in images fixed on the reel strips. Virtual reelstrips may be mapped to these physical reel positions shown on the reelstrips to expand the range or diversity of game outcomes. In video slotexamples, reel strips may be encoded in a memory or database and virtualreels may be used for the game reels with images representing the datarelated to the reel strips. In other slot machine embodiments, each reelstop position on the grid may be associated with an independent reelstrip. In yet other slot machine embodiments, reels and/or reel stripsmay not be used at all in determining the symbols shown in the gameelement positions of the grid. For example, a symbol may be randomlyselected for each game element position, or the symbols may bedetermined in part by game events occurring during game play, such asdisplayed elements being replaced by new game elements or symbols.Numerous variations are possible for implementing slot-type game play.

Although FIG. 1 illustrates a particular implementation of some of theembodiments of this invention in a casino or electronic gaming machine(“EGM”), one or more devices may be programmed to play variousembodiments of the invention. The present invention may be implemented,as shown in FIG. 1, as a casino gaming machine or other special purposegaming kiosk as described herein, or may be implemented via computingsystems operating under the direction of local gaming software, and/orremotely-provided software such as provided by an application serviceprovider (ASP). Casino gaming machines may also utilize computingsystems to control and manage the gaming activity, although thesecomputing systems typically include specialized components and/orfunctionality to operate the particular elements of casino gamingmachines. Additionally, computing systems operating over networks, suchas the Internet, may also include specialized components and/orfunctionality to operate elements particular to these systems, such asrandom number generators. An example of a representative computingsystem capable of carrying out operations in accordance with theinvention is illustrated in FIG. 2.

Hardware, firmware, software or a combination thereof may be used toperform the various gaming functions, display presentations andoperations described herein. The functional modules used in connectionwith the invention may reside in a gaming machine as described, or mayalternatively reside on a stand-alone or networked computer. Thecomputing structure 200 of FIG. 2 is an example computing structure thatcan be used in connection with such electronic gaming machines,computers, or other computer-implemented devices to carry out operationsof the present invention. Although numerous components or elements areshown as part of this computing structure 200 in FIG. 2, additional orfewer components may be utilized in particular implementations ofembodiments of the invention.

The example computing arrangement 200 suitable for performing the gamingfunctions in accordance with the present invention typically includes acentral processor (CPU) 202 coupled to random access memory (RAM) 204and some variation of read-only memory (ROM) 206. The ROM 206 may alsorepresent other types of storage media to store programs, such asprogrammable ROM (PROM), erasable PROM (EPROM), etc. The processor 202may communicate with other internal and external components throughinput/output (I/O) circuitry 208 and bussing 210, to provide controlsignals, communication signals, and the like.

The computing arrangement 200 may also include one or more data storagedevices, including hard and floppy disk drives 212, CD-ROM drives 214,card reader 215, and other hardware capable of reading and/or storinginformation such as DVD, etc. In one embodiment, software for carryingout the operations in accordance with the present invention may bestored and distributed on a CD-ROM 216, diskette 218, access card 219,or other form of computer readable media capable of portably storinginformation. These storage media may be inserted into, and read by,devices such as the CD-ROM drive 214, the disk drive 212, card reader215, etc. The software may also be transmitted to the computingarrangement 200 via data signals, such as being downloadedelectronically via a network, such as local area network (casino,property, or bank network) or a wide area network (e.g., the Internet).Further, as previously described, the software for carrying out thefunctions associated with the present invention may alternatively bestored in internal memory/storage of the computing device 200, such asin the ROM 206.

The computing arrangement 200 is coupled to the display 211, whichrepresents a display on which the gaming activities in accordance withthe invention are presented. The display 211 represents the“presentation” of the game information in accordance with the invention,and may be a mechanical display showing physical spinning reels, a videodisplay, such as liquid crystal displays, plasma displays, cathode raytubes (CRT), digital light processing (DLP) displays, liquid crystal onsilicon (LCOS) displays, etc., or any type of known display orpresentation screen.

Where the computing device 200 represents a stand-alone or networkedcomputer, the display 211 may represent a standard computer terminal ordisplay capable of displaying multiple windows, frames, etc. Where thecomputing device 200 represents a mobile electronic device, the display211 may represent the video display of the mobile electronic device.Where the computing device 200 is embedded within an electronic gamingmachine, the display 211 corresponds to the display screen of the gamingmachine/kiosk.

A user input interface 222 such as a mouse, keyboard/keypad, microphone,touch pad, trackball, joystick, touch screen, voice-recognition system,card reader, biometric scanner, RFID detector, etc. may be provided. Theuser input interface 222 may be used to input commands in the computingarrangement 200, such as placing wagers or initiating gaming events onthe computing arrangement 200, inputting currency or other paymentinformation to establish a credit amount or wager amount, or inputtingdata to identify a player for a player loyalty system. The display 211may also act as a user input device, e.g., where the display 211 is atouchscreen device. In embodiments, where the computing device 200 isimplemented in a personal computer, tablet, smart phone, or otherconsumer electronic device, the user interface and display may be theavailable input/output mechanisms related to those devices.

Chance-based gaming systems such as slot machines, in which the presentinvention is applicable, are governed by random numbers and processors,as facilitated by a random number generator (RNG). The fixed and dynamicsymbols generated as part of a gaming activity may be produced using oneor more RNGs. RNGs may be implemented using hardware, software operablein connection with the processor 202, or some combination of hardwareand software. The present invention is operable using any known RNG, andmay be integrally programmed as part of the processor 202 operation, oralternatively may be a separate RNG controller 240. The RNGs are oftenprotected by one or more security measures to prevent tampering, such asby using secured circuitry, locks on the physical game cabinet, and/orremote circuitry that transmits data to the gaming device.

The computing arrangement 200 may be connected to other computingdevices or gaming machines, such as via a network. The computingarrangement 200 may be connected to a network server 228 in an intranetor local network configuration. The computer may further be part of alarger network configuration as in a global area network (GAN) such asthe Internet. In such a case, the computer may have access to one ormore web servers via the Internet. In other arrangements, the computingarrangement 200 may be configured as an Internet server and software forcarrying out the operations in accordance with the present invention mayinteract with the player via one or more networks. The computingarrangement 200 may also be operable over a social network or othernetwork environment that may or may not regulate the wagering and/orgaming activity associated with gaming events played on the computingarrangement.

Other components directed to gaming machine implementations includemanners of gaming participant payment, and gaming machine payout. Forexample, a gaming machine including the computing arrangement 200 mayalso include a payout controller 242 to receive a signal from theprocessor 202 indicating a payout is to be made to a player andcontrolling a payout device 244 to facilitate payment of the payout tothe player. In some embodiments, the payout controller 242 mayindependently determine the amount of payout to be provided to theparticipant or player. In other embodiments, the payout controller 242may be integrally implemented with the processor 202. The payoutcontroller 242 may be a hopper controller, a print driver,credit-transmitting device, bill-dispensing controller, accountingsoftware, or other controller device configured to verify and/orfacilitate payment to a player.

A payout device 244 may also be provided in gaming machine embodiments,where the payout device 244 serves as the mechanism providing the payoutto the player or participant. In some embodiments, the payout device maybe a hopper, where the hopper serves as the mechanism holding thecoins/tokens of the machine, and/or distributing the coins/tokens to theplayer in response to a signal from the payout controller 242. In otherembodiments, the payout device 244 may be a printer mechanism structuredto print credit-based tickets that may be redeemed by the player forcash, credit, or other casino value-based currency. In yet otherembodiments, the payout device 244 may send a signal via the networkserver 228 or other device to electronically provide a credit amount toan account associated with the player, such as a credit card account orplayer loyalty account. The computing arrangement 200 may also includeaccounting data stored in one of the memory devices 204, 206. Thisaccounting data may be transmitted to a casino accounting network orother network to manage accounting statistics for the computingarrangement or to provide verification data for the currency orcurrency-based tickets distributed by the payout device, such asproviding the data associated with the bar codes printed on thecurrency-based tickets so they are identifiable as valid tickets for aparticular amount when the player redeems them or inserts them inanother gaming device.

The wager input module or device 246 represents any mechanism foraccepting coins, tokens, coupons, bills, electronic fund transfer (EFT),tickets, credit cards, smart cards, membership/loyalty cards, etc., forwhich a participant inputs a wager amount. The wager input device 246may include magnetic strip readers, bar code scanners, light sensors, orother detection devices to identify and validate physical currency,currency-based tickets, cards with magnetized-strips, or other mediuminputted into the wager input device. When a particular medium isreceived in the wager input device 246, a signal may be generated toestablish or increase an available credit amount or balance stored inthe internal memory/storage of the computing device 200, such as in theRAM 204. Thereafter, specific wagers placed on games may reduce theavailable credit amount, while awards won may increase the availablecredit amount. It will be appreciated that the primary gaming software232 may be able to control payouts via the payout device 244 and payoutcontroller 242 for independently determined payout events.

Among other functions, the computing arrangement 200 provides aninteractive experience to players via an input interface 222 and outputdevices, such as the display 211, speaker 230, etc. These experiencesare generally controlled by gaming software 232 that controls a primarygaming activity of the computing arrangement 200. The gaming software232 may be temporarily loaded into RAM 204, and may be stored locallyusing any combination of ROM 206, drives 212, media player 214, or othercomputer-readable storage media known in the art. The primary gamingsoftware 232 may also be accessed remotely, such as via the server 228or the Internet.

The primary gaming software 232 in the computing arrangement 200 may bean application software module. According to embodiments of the presentinvention, this software 232 provides a slot game or similar game ofchance as described hereinabove. For example, the software 232 maypresent, by way of the display 211, representations of symbols to map orotherwise display as part of a slot-based game having reels. However, inother embodiments, the principles of this concept may be applied topoker games or other types of games of chance. One or more alignedpositions of these game elements may be evaluated to determine awardsbased on a paytable. The software 232 may include instructions toprovide other functionality as known in the art or as described andshown herein.

In some embodiment, a gaming device includes a video poker game whereitems associated with cards in poker hand, or card positions where thecards in the poker hand are displayed, can be locked, held, stuck, orotherwise maintained and a secondary game event is played whereadditional items can be received. The items may provide credits, bonusopportunities, progressives, multipliers, or other types of awards,modifiers, or beneficial game enhancements. In some embodiments, theitems may be sub-symbol overlays that are associated with cards. Inother embodiments, the items may be particular cards out of the one ormore decks of cards being used in the game event. In yet otherembodiments, the items may be associated with a particular card position(or positions) on the game grid. Alternatively, the items may be locatedoutside of the game grid and may or may not be associated with the gameevent being played on the game grid.

The items may be associated with credit values, multiplier values,progressive awards, wild symbols or cards, bonus triggers, wheels, dice,or other awards or modifiers that enhance the game play of theunderlying base or primary game. Although several embodiments areillustrated with a video poker base game, other embodiments could have abase game that utilizes spinning reels (slot game), keno, bingo, studpoker, hold'em poker, or any other game of chance.

In one example, the items may be sub-symbols that are associated withmultipliers. The multipliers could be used on one or more current pokerhands, or could be applied on future poker hands. In another example,the items may be sub-symbols that are associated with credit values. Thecredit values may be immediately awarded during the current game or maybe traded-in for the chance at a future multiplier, bonus initiation, orprogressive award. In yet another example, multiple types of sub-symbolsmay be used. For example, multipliers could be applied on future pokerhands in subsequent games that are wagered on, while credits are paid onthe current hand.

In some embodiments, the items may be awarded during both a deal anddraw part of a draw poker game, where any items received on the deal aremaintained and additional items could be acquired during the draw phaseof the game. In some embodiments, items with credit values may beawarded during the deal phase of the draw poker game and itemsassociated with multipliers may be awarded during the draw phase of thedraw poker game. Any credits won during the deal phase would bemultiplied by the sum (or product, or largest, or random one) of themultipliers awarded during the draw phase of the draw poker game. Inother examples, items may be associated with only credits, multipliers,or other awards/modifiers during both the deal and draw phases of thepoker game. If the items are sub-symbol overlays associated withparticular cards in the deck, a second deck or other technique may beused to ensure that held cards have the same chance of being associatedwith a sub-symbol on the draw as any replacement cards so that theplayer does not have to alter a hold-draw strategy during the pokerplay.

In other embodiments, the items may be “Wild” symbols that make theunderlying card wild. In other embodiments, the items may be othercards, where the better of the two cards (or both cards) can be used togenerate the optimum poker hand. In some of these embodiments, thesub-symbol card may result in a “split card” with multiple indicia beingutilizes in one associated card position.

In some embodiments, the items could be persistent where they stay andare available until they are used. For example, if a sub-symbol item wasassociated with a multiplier, but the current hand was not a winningpoker hand, the multiplier may be saved until a winning poker hand isachieved. Alternatively, the items could be persistent and stay untilthey cannot be used. For example, if a sub-symbol item was associatedwith a multiplier and the current hand was a winning poker hand, themultiplier may be saved and used on subsequent poker games until anon-winning poker hand is received.

In some embodiments, the items may be sub-symbol wheels that areassociated with particular cards or card positions on the game grid.Here, when a wheel is received during a game, the wheel may be spun toaward credits, multipliers, wild cards, extra cards, etc. In otherembodiments, the items may be sub-symbol dice that are associated withparticular cards or card positions on the game grid. Here, when a die isreceived during a game, the die may be rolled to award credits,multipliers, wild cards, extra cards, etc.

In some embodiments, the items are associated with specific cards. Inone embodiment, each card position on the grid may receive a random oneof the face cards along with any other card that is dealt to thatparticular card position. For example, an Ace of Spades may be randomlyallocated to the second card position in a five-card draw poker game.Suppose on the deal, the player receives a King of Diamonds, an 8 ofHearts, a 5 of Clubs, a 2 of Diamonds, and an Ace of Diamonds. Theplayer may hold the Ace of Diamonds knowing that they can use the bonusAce of Spades at the second card location to form at least a pair ofAces. In other embodiments, the bonus cards may automatically form amulti-indicia card. Here, the player may need to hold both the 8 ofHearts/Ace of Spades in the second card position and the Ace of Diamondsin the fifth card location to ensure they receive at least a pair ofAces on the draw. Many additional variations are possible.

In other embodiments, particular cards may be awarded for randomlyselected ones of the card positions according to a set of rules. Forexample, this set of rules may have the particular card chosen forrandomly selected card position to be a copy of the card dealt to thatcard position, be a card of the same suit that is one up in rank or onebelow in rank from the card dealt to that card position, randomly choosea card from the set of rules, or use another manner of selecting theparticular card for that card position.

In other embodiments, the items could be randomly awarded based on amystery trigger, or items could be provided based receiving a winninghand (or minimum-level winning hand, such as a full house or better) ina previous poker game. In yet other embodiments, a sub-symbol wheeltrigger may be used, where one of the sections of the wheel isassociated with the bonus trigger (the other sections of the wheel maybe credit awards, multipliers, etc.).

In some embodiments, a player may need to receive a minimum number ofitems to trigger a secondary lock and improve feature. In otherembodiments, a player may need to receive a particular item orcombination of items to trigger the lock and improve feature. In yetother embodiments, the player may have to get an item (or specific typeof item) in a particular location to trigger the lock and improvefeature.

In some embodiments, a bonus bet may be needed to be eligible for thebonus feature. This bonus bet may be structured as a 5+1, 5+2, 5+3, 5+4,5+5, etc. where the bonus bet is the second number. Hence, in a 5+5embodiment, the player would bet five credits on the poker hand and bepaid according to a 5-credit paytable, while paying an additional 5credits (10 credit total wager) to also be eligible for the bonus. Inother embodiments, no bonus bet may be needed.

This feature could be implemented in single-hand poker, multi-handpoker, Keno game, Bingo, spinning reel games, etc. In multi-hand pokerembodiments, a lock and improve feature could be implemented with 3hands, 5 hands, 10 hands, 25 hands, 50 hands, 100 hands, or any othernumber of hands. In some of these embodiments, the chances of hittingthe feature may go up as there are many more card positions where itemsmay be associated. However, the bonus bet to be eligible for the featuremay also go up, which could cover the cost of increased frequency oftriggering the bonus feature. In other embodiments, the lock and improvefeature could be implemented across multiple denominations. Here, theawards associated with the items may simply scale with the denominationbeing played. In embodiments, where there are progressive jackpots, theprogressive award values may stay the same, but the chance of beingawarded them could fluctuate with the denomination being used. Forexample, if a player was playing at a penny denomination, they may be100 times less likely to win a particular progressive award as a playerplaying a dollar denomination, even though both players are playing fora, for example, $10,000 progressive jackpot. Fixed jackpot award values,may however, be scaled to the denomination being played. Hence, a minijackpot may be $10.00 for a penny player, but $1000.00 for a dollarplayer.

In one example embodiment, a player may be playing a 3-hand multi-playpoker game with a wager of 5+5 (five credits wagered on each hand plus 5credits wagered per each hand for bonus eligibility) for a total wagerof 30 credits per gaming event. Here, every card has a chance to beassociated with a sub-symbol overlay, where each sub-symbol could beassociated with a credit value or a progressive indicator. If a playerreceived 6 sub-symbols during play in the 15 card positions, it wouldtrigger a lock and improve bonus. In the lock and improve bonus, eachcard position that is not associated with a sub-symbol may be randomlyspun (card flip, or other animation to show you had a chance of asub-symbol appearing at that card position) to try for a sub-symbol atthat position. The player may receive 3 tries or spins to get allpositions associated with a sub-symbol. Each time the player receives anew sub-symbol, the player may reset a “Remaining Spins” meter to 3spins. Hence, the bonus ends when the player spins three times in a rowwithout receiving a new sub-symbol, or has each card position associatedwith a sub-symbol. Here, if the player gets all 15 card positionsassociated with a sub symbol, the player wins a Mega Jackpot. In thisexample, the game may have a 4 level jackpots (top 2 may be progressive,and the bottom 2 would be fixed awards presented as jackpots), such asaccording to the following reset values:

Mega $20k Major $500 Minor $250 Mini $50

In other embodiments, a bonus event associated with items associatedwith cards or other game symbols may be triggered (by, for example,receiving a predefined number of them in the game grid during a gamingevent) and locked or otherwise held in their respective positions whileone or more additional base game events are played. In one exampleembodiment, a gaming device includes a video poker game where sub-symboloverlay items are randomly associated with cards or card positions.Here, if a predetermined number of overlay items are received during agame event (e.g., if a multi-hand poker game of three hands, six or moreoverlay items may be required to trigger the bonus event), the overlayitems may be locked or held relative to the card positions where theyappear and a counter may be presented showing a predetermined number ofgames in which the overlay items will be held. In this exampleembodiment, one or more additional poker base games may be wagered onwhere the overlay items are held, where additional items can be receivedin these additional one or more poker games. Additionally, when the oneor more additional poker games have been played, the bonus event mayconclude and the received items may be evaluated to provide a bonusamount, modifier, or other award. In some embodiments, one or more ofthe overlay items may be evaluated and used during the one or moreadditional poker base games. For example, if an overlay item isassociated with a multiplier, that multiplier may be used on one (ormore) of the additional poker games. Alternatively, in another example,if an overlay item is associated with a multiplier, the multiplier maybe held until the end of the bonus event and then used on the finalpoker base game during the bonus event, or may be used on poker basegames after the bonus event has concluded.

As discussed above, the overlay items in this embodiment may beassociated with credit values, progressive award indicators,multipliers, bonus cards, wild symbols, etc. In some embodiments relatedto the above example, if the overlay items are associated with creditvalues or progressive awards, those credits and/or progressive awardsmay be awarded at the conclusion of the bonus event. Additionally, insome embodiments, receiving one or more additional overlay items duringthe bonus event (i.e., prior to the counter showing the remaining numberof games at zero) may reset the counter or add additional games to thecounter.

In yet other embodiments, a player may need to wager additional creditsor coins to activate each card location or card column in order to beeligible for a bonus opportunity occurring in those card locations orcard columns. For example, if a specific card (e.g., an Ace, a royal, orother predetermined card) or an item (such as a sub-symbol overlay)appears in an active card location or card column, the player may wincredits, multipliers, game modifiers, or other awards, or trigger asecondary bonus feature. On the other hand, if a player receives apredetermined card (or card type) or item in a non-activated cardposition or card column, the player does not win any additional award orfeature.

In some embodiments, credits appear on a specific card (or on asub-symbol overlay associated with a card) in a location where a playerwill have had to place an additional wager on to activate that locationin order for the player to win. In other embodiments, the specific cardsor sub-symbols may be associated with multipliers or progressives, orcould cause the card to become a wild card, a “split card” with multiplecard indicia, or have another type of game modifier. In someembodiments, if a progressive is shown, the player would win thespecified progressive. If, on the other hand, multipliers are won, themultipliers could be used on the current hand or on the next one or moresubsequent poker hands.

In some embodiments, a bonus bet may be needed to be eligible for thebonus feature. This bonus bet may be structured as a 5+1, 5+2, 5+3, 5+4,5+5, etc. where the bonus bet is the second number. Hence, in a 5+5embodiment, the player would bet five credits on the poker hand and bepaid according to a 5-credit paytable, while paying an additional 5credits (10 credit total wager) to also be eligible for the bonus. Inone example embodiment, the player may place a 5+1 bet to activate thefirst card position in a five-card poker hand, place a 5+2 bet toactivate the first and second card positions in the five-card pokerhand, place a 5+3 bet to activate the first, second, and third cardpositions in the five-card poker hand, place a 5+4 bet to activate thefirst, second, third, and fourth card positions in the five-card pokerhand, and place a 5+5 bet to activate all of the card positions in thefive-card poker hand. In other embodiments, no bonus bet may be needed.

This feature could be implemented in single-hand poker, multi-handpoker, Keno game, Bingo, spinning reel games, etc. In multi-hand pokerembodiments, a lock and improve feature such as is discussed above couldbe implemented with 3 hands, 5 hands, 10 hands, 25 hands, 50 hands, 100hands, or any other number of hands. In some of these embodiments, thechances of hitting the feature may go up as there are many more cardpositions where items may be associated. However, the bonus bet to beeligible for the feature may also go up, which could cover the cost ofincreased frequency of triggering the bonus feature. In otherembodiments, the lock and improve feature could be implemented acrossmultiple denominations as discussed above.

In one example embodiment, a player may be playing a single hand pokergame where the player wagers 5 credits for the poker hand and another 5credits for each card position that they want to activate (hence, up toa 30-credit total bet). When the cards are dealt to the poker hand (anddrawn if it is a draw poker game), sub-symbols may appear on the cardswhere the sub-symbols have a credit value or progressive name (e.g.,Grand, Major, Minor, Mini). Every card may have a chance to receive asub-symbol (i.e., the sub symbols can be dependent on cards, although asecond deck or other technique could be used to ensure that each cardwhether held or replaced in draw poker could receive a sub-symbol on thedraw), or the sub-symbols could be independent of any particular cardand just be randomly selected to appear or not at each card position.Here, for each location that has a sub symbol player may win credits ora specified progressive from, for example, the following:

4 Level Progressive Grand $10k Major $500 Minor $250 Mini $50

In a second example embodiment, a multi-hand poker game with three handsmay be played where a player wagers 5 credits for each poker hand and 5credits for each card position (or 15 credits for each card column) forup to a total wager of 90 credits. When the cards are dealt to the pokerhand (and drawn if it is a draw poker game), sub-symbols may appear onthe cards where the sub-symbols have a credit value or progressive name(e.g., Grand, Major, Minor, Mini). Every card may have a chance toreceive a sub-symbol (i.e., the sub symbols can be dependent on cards,although a second deck or other technique could be used to ensure thateach card whether held or replaced in draw poker could receive asub-symbol on the draw), or the sub-symbols could be independent of anyparticular card and just be randomly selected to appear or not at eachcard position. Here, for each location that has a sub symbol player maywin credits or a specified progressive from, for example, the following:

4 Level Progressive Grand $10k Major $500 Minor $250 Mini $50

In a third example embodiment, a multi-hand poker game with three handsmay be played where a player wagers 5 credits for each poker hand and 5credits for each card column for up to a total wager of 40 credits. Whenthe cards are dealt to the poker hand (and drawn if it is a draw pokergame), sub-symbols may appear on the cards where the sub-symbols have acredit value or progressive name (e.g., Grand, Major, Minor, Mini).Every card may have a chance to receive a sub-symbol (i.e., the subsymbols can be dependent on cards, although a second deck or othertechnique could be used to ensure that each card whether held orreplaced in draw poker could receive a sub-symbol on the draw), or thesub-symbols could be independent of any particular card and just berandomly selected to appear or not at each card position. Here, for eachlocation that has a sub symbol player may win credits or a specifiedprogressive from, for example, the following:

4 Level Progressive Grand $10k Major $500 Minor $250 Mini $50

The following figures show some embodiments of gaming devices with thelock and improve feature. However, many other embodiments are possible.

FIG. 3 is a detail diagram of a gaming device display showing a lock andimprove feature according to embodiments of the invention. Referring toFIG. 3, a gaming display 300 of a gaming device includes a game playarea showing a game grid of card positions that allow for presentationof virtual playing cards 320 in poker hands 310, a game paytable 302,and a user interface or operations area 340. The user interface area 340may include various meters and buttons, such as a “Credit” meter 342, a“Paid” indicator 344, a “Total Bet” meter or indicator 346, multiple“Hold” buttons 330 associated with the card positions of the poker hand310, and a “Deal” or “Draw” button 348. In other poker games, or othertypes of games of chance, the game play area and/or the player interfacearea 340 may be different. In this embodiment, sub-symbol items 352 canbe associated with the playing cards 320 or the card positions in thegame grid, where the cards are displayed in a poker hand 310. In thisembodiment, the sub-symbol item 352 is an overlay that is associatedwith a credit award value of “100” credits. In other embodiments, thesub-symbol item 352 may include a multiplier, a progressive award name,a bonus card, or another type of prize or game modifier.

Although FIG. 3 shows a draw poker game, other embodiments may use astud poker base game with the sub-symbol items 352. Additionally, inother embodiments, multi-hand poker games, various other poker games,blackjack games, slot games, or other games of chance may be used. Insome embodiments, if a sub-symbol 352 is received during the play of thebase poker game, the player is immediately awarded what is indicated onthe sub-symbol. In embodiments where a credit value is shown on thesub-symbol 352 (such as is shown in FIG. 3), the player would be awardedthat credit value in addition to any awards based on the evaluation ofthe poker hand 310. In embodiments where a multiplier value is shown onthe sub-symbol 352, the multiplier value may be used on the current gameto multiply any awards based on the evaluation of the poker hand 310,and/or may be used on one or more future poker games to multiply awardsin those future poker games. In embodiments where a game modifier isshown on the sub-symbol 352, the game modifier may be used during thecurrent game, and/or may be used on one or more subsequently playedpoker games.

FIGS. 4A, 4B, and 4C are detail diagrams of a gaming device displayshowing a game progression according to embodiments of the invention.Referring to FIG. 4A, a gaming display 400 of a gaming device includes agame play area showing a game grid of card positions that allow forpresentation of virtual playing cards 420 in poker hands 410, a gamepaytable 402, and a user interface or operations area 440. The userinterface area 440 may include various meters and buttons, such as a“Credit” meter 442, a “Paid” indicator 444, a “Total Bet” meter orindicator 446, multiple “Hold” buttons 430 associated with the cardpositions of the poker hand 410, and a “Deal” or “Draw” button 448. Inother poker games, or other types of games of chance, the game play areaand/or the player interface area 440 may be different. Here, sub-symbols452, 454 may be associated with cards 420 or card positions in the gamegrid, where cards can be displayed in the poker hand 410. In someembodiments, the sub-symbols 452, 454 may be randomly assigned toparticular cards in the virtual deck of cards prior to a random deal ofthe cards to the form the poker hand 410. In draw poker embodiments, asub-symbol 452, 454 that is received on the deal may be kept at aparticular card 420 location irrespective of whether the card it wasinitially associated with is held or discarded. Hence, in theseembodiments, there is no change in poker strategy for holding ordiscarding the initial dealt cards 420. In other embodiments, a seconddeck may be used for the draw portion of the draw poker game todetermine if sub-symbols 452, 454 appear on any of the held orreplacement cards 420 in generating the final poker hand 410.

In other embodiments, one or more random determinations may be doneduring a game event to determine if the sub-symbols 452, 454 will beassociated with a particular card position in the game grid. Here, thesub-symbols may act as overlays that are shown on top of the virtualcards 420 when they are dealt out to form the poker hand 410. Inembodiments where a draw poker game is played, a second group of one ormore random determinations may be done after a draw is made. Here, thesecond group of random determinations may randomly determine if asub-symbol appears in a card position irrespective of whether theinitially dealt player card 420 is held or not prior to the draw.

Referring to FIG. 4B, the sub-symbols 452, 454 are maintained with acard position regardless if an associated card 420 is held or not. Here,the player has held the Ace of Diamonds and the Ace of Spades. As theAce of Spades was associated with 50 credit sub-symbol 454, thesub-symbol is kept along with the Ace of Spades. The 100 creditsub-symbol, however, was associated with a 4 of Hearts that did not getheld. However, since the sub-symbol maintained its associate with thesecond card position in the poker hand 410, the 100 credit sub-symbol ismaintained with its respective card position.

Referring to FIG. 4C, the replacement cards 420 have been drawn afterthe hold and draw. Here, two additional sub-symbols 456, 458 have beenreceived on the draw. As shown in FIG. 4C, in some embodimentsadditional sub-symbols may be drawn for any card position, even cardpositions that already are associated with a sub-symbol from the deal.In this case, a 75 credit sub-symbol 456 is randomly associated with thesecond card position in the poker hand 410 even though the second cardposition is already associate with a 100 credit sub-symbol 420 from thedeal. In some embodiments, the player will be awarded the value of allof the sub-symbols received at the end of the game event (such as shownin FIG. 4C, where the player is awarded 150 credits for the 3-of-a-kindAces, and 250 credits for the four sub-symbols 452, 454, 456, 458received, which is shown in the Paid meter 444. In other embodiments, aplayer may only be awarded the top valued sub-symbol for any particularcard position (hence would only be awarded for the 100 credit sub-symbol452 in the second card position). In yet other embodiments, the playermay only be award for the largest-valued sub-symbol received for theentire poker hand (hence the player would only receive the 100 creditsub-symbol 452 and not the other three sub-symbols 454, 456, 458).

In still other embodiments, the player may have to receive a certainnumber of sub-symbols on the poker hand 410 to be awarded their value.For example, a player may have to receive 3 or more sub-symbols in apoker game to be eligible to win the combined value associate with thereceived sub-symbols. In other embodiments, the player may have to placeadditional wagers to activate each of the card positions to be eligibleto win any awards associated with sub-symbols that are received in thosecard positions.

FIGS. 5A, 5B, 5C, 5D, and 5E are detail diagrams of a gaming devicedisplay showing a game progression according to embodiments of theinvention. Referring to FIG. 5A, a gaming display 500 of a gaming deviceincludes a game play area showing a game grid of card positions thatallow for presentation of virtual playing cards 520 in poker hands 510,a multi-level progressive with multiple progressive meters 572, 574,576, 578, and a user interface or operations area 540. The userinterface area 540 may include various meters and buttons, such as a“Credit” meter 542, a “Paid” indicator 544, a “Total Bet” meter orindicator 546, multiple “Hold” buttons 530 associated with the cardpositions of the poker hand 510, and a “Deal” or “Draw” button 548. Inother poker games, or other types of games of chance, the game play areaand/or the player interface area 540 may be different. In thisembodiment, the multi-level progressive includes a top progressive award(“Mega Progressive”) 578, a second level progressive award (“MajorProgressive”) 576, a third level progressive award (“Minor Progressive”)574, and fourth level progressive award (“Mini Progressive”) 572.

In this example embodiment, a single draw poker hand 510 may have itemsor sub-symbols 552, 554 associated with the virtual cards 520, or thecard positions in the game grid, where random cards are displayed as apoker hand 510. Here, if a minimum number of sub-symbols 552, 554 arereceived during the poker gaming event (during the deal only, or duringboth the deal and the draw), a bonus event is triggered. In this exampleembodiment, the minimum number of items 552, 554 that need to bereceived to trigger the bonus event is two. As shown in FIG. 5A, as twoof these sub-symbol items 552, 554 are received, the bonus event istriggered. In some embodiments, the triggering of the bonus event maysimply award the values or modifiers associated with each of thesub-symbol items 552, 554. In this illustrated embodiment, however, theplayer may have a predefined number of chances to obtain extrasub-symbol items 552, 554 and improve his or her bonus award. A bonusspin meter 560 may show a number of chances or spins the player has toreceive additional sub-symbol items 552, 554. In some embodiments, thenumber indicated by the meter 560 is the total number of chances aplayer has to receive additional bonus items 552, 554. In otherembodiments, the number of chances shown on the bonus spin meter 560 maybe reset to a predetermined number (the same as the starting number ofchances, or a different number) or may be increased based on whathappens during the bonus event. For example, if another bonus item 552,554 is received during one of the additional chances, the bonus spinmeter 560 may be reset to 3 chances or spins.

In these example embodiments, the remaining cards 520 that are notcurrently associated with a sub-symbol 552, 554 are “re-spun” where thecard values stay the same (but may animate in a flipping or othermotion) while a random determination is made as to whether sub-symbolswill respectively be associated with each of those particular cardpositions. Here, as the cards 520 are spinning or flipping, some of thecards (for example the Ace of Diamonds in the first card position)flipping by may be associated with a sub-symbol bonus item 552, 554 andsome of the cards spinning or flipping by are not associated with anysub-symbol bonus item. The items 552, 554 may further specify one of theprogressive awards 572, 574, 576, 578, or a player may win one of theprogressives if they receive a sub-symbol at each card position beforethey are out of any remaining spins shown on the bonus spin meter 560.

Referring to FIG. 5B, the first, third, and fourth card positions (i.e.,the card positions not associated with one of the received bonussub-symbol items 552, 554 are re-spun, and the number of remainingchances shown on the bonus spin meter 560 is decremented to 2. Referringto FIG. 5C, the first re-spin of the cards is complete and no additionalbonus items 552, 554 were received. Note that the Ace of Diamonds in thefirst card position, 8 of Spades in the third card position, and 9 ofDiamonds in the fourth card position have not changed in card rank orsuit (i.e., they are still the same cards as when the bonus event wastriggered). Referring to FIG. 5D, the first, third, and fourth cardpositions (i.e., the card positions not associated with one of thereceived bonus sub-symbol items 552, 554 are again re-spun, and thenumber of remaining chances shown on the bonus spin meter 560 isdecremented to 1. Referring to FIG. 5E, the second re-spin of the cardsis complete and a third sub-symbol bonus item 556 has been received atthe fourth card position. As one or more additional sub-symbol bonusitems 552, 554, 556 was received, the number of remaining spins orchances is reset to “3” on the bonus spin meter 560. Here, the playerhas three more chances to receive one or more additional bonus items. Ifthe player runs out of chances or receives a bonus item at each cardposition, the bonus event will end and the player will be awarded eachof the values shown on the received bonus items. As shown in FIG. 5E,the player will win at a minimum 75 bonus credits and the “MiniProgressive” award of 750 credits, although the player could potentiallywin more.

FIGS. 6A, 6B, 6C, 6D, 6E, 6F, 6G, 6H, 6I, 6J, and 6K are detail diagramsof a gaming device display showing a game progression according toembodiments of the invention. FIGS. 6A-6K illustrate an exampleembodiment that uses similar rules to the example embodiment illustratedin FIGS. 5A-5E except that the poker game shown in FIGS. 6A-6K is amulti-hand poker game where 3 poker hands are played during a singlegame event. Here, six or more bonus items need to be received in the 15card positions to trigger the bonus event. In other embodiments, more orless poker hands (such as five hands, ten hands, 50 hands, 100 hands,etc.) could be played and/or more or less bonus items may need to bereceived to trigger the lock and improve bonus feature.

Referring to FIG. 6A, a gaming display 600 of a gaming device includes agame play area showing a game grid of card positions that allow forpresentation of virtual playing cards 620 in three poker hands 610, 612,614, and a user interface or operations area 640. The user interfacearea 640 may include various meters and buttons, such as a “Credit”meter 642, a “Paid” indicator 644, a “Total Bet” meter or indicator 646,multiple “Hold” buttons 630 associated with the card positions of thepoker hands 610, 612, 614, and a “Deal” or “Draw” button 648. In otherpoker games, or other types of games of chance, the game play areaand/or the player interface area 640 may be different. In thisembodiment, the first poker hand 610 is the hand where the initial cards620 are dealt. Thereafter, these initially dealt cards 620 can be heldwhere the held cards are replicated in the second poker hand 612 andthird poker hand 614, and then replacement cards and drawn for eachnon-held card in the first poker hand 610 and for the remaining cardpositions in the second poker hand 612 and third poker hand 614. Asshown in FIG. 6A, the player has received a bonus item 651 in the firstpoker hand 610 based on the deal.

Referring to FIG. 6B, the player has held the 5 of Spades in the firstcard position and the 5 of Hearts in the third card position of thefirst poker hand 610, and has activated the Draw button 648. Here, thecards held in the first poker hand 610 were replicated in the associatedcard positions in the second poker hand 612 and third poker hand 614.When the draw button 648 is activated, it is determined whether any ofthe held cards that was not associated with a bonus item 651 are nowassociated with a bonus item. This is the case so that the playerstrategy in holding cards 620 is not affected by which cards or cardpositions are associate with bonus items 651. In other embodiments,additional bonus items may be revealed in the second or third poker hand612, 614 prior to holding cards in the first hand 610, or after thecards in the first hand have been held, but before the Draw button 648has been activated.

Referring to FIG. 6C, replacement cards have been provided to thenon-held positions in the first poker hand 610, the second poker hand612, and the third poker hand 614. Note that the bonus item 651 that wasreceived on the deal was maintained with the card position after thedraw even though the card 620 associated with that card position was notheld. Note also, that even though the 5 of Spades in the first pokerhand 610 has held and was not initially associated with a bonus item, itis now associated with a bonus item 653 after the draw. In addition,four other bonus items 652, 654, 655, 656 are received in the second orthird poker hands 612, 614. As the total number of bonus items hasreached the predetermined number of six, a bonus event has beentriggered. As one of the bonus items 652 specifies a Mini Progressiveaward, a progressive display 602 is also shown. This progressive display602 may be shown even when the bonus event is not active or triggered.

Referring to FIG. 6D, a bonus spin meter 660 is displayed to show thenumber of remaining bonus spins a player has in the bonus event toreceive additional bonus items 651-656. In this embodiment, the playerreceives two bonus spins to received additional bonus items 651-656, butthe player may get additional opportunities to win bonus items as thenumber of spins resets to two if a player receives one or moreadditional bonus items during a bonus spin in the bonus event. As shownin FIG. 6D, the card positions that are not associated with a bonus item651-656 are “re-spun” where versions of the respective cards at eachcard position being spun are shown with one of a number of bonus itemsor without a bonus item.

Referring to FIG. 6E, the first bonus spin has been completed, and noadditional bonus items 651-656 are received. Referring to FIG. 6F, thesecond bonus spin is initiated, and the number of remaining spins shownon the bonus spin meter 660 is decremented. Referring to FIG. 6G, thesecond bonus spin is completed and a seventh bonus item 657 is received.As a new item was received during the bonus spin, the number ofremaining spins shown on the bonus spin meter 660 has been reset to “2.”Referring to FIG. 6H, the third bonus spin is initiated, and the numberof remaining spins shown on the bonus spin meter 660 is decremented.Referring to FIG. 6I, the third bonus spin has been completed, and noadditional bonus items 651-657 are received. Referring to FIG. 6J, thefourth bonus spin is initiated, and the number of remaining spins shownon the bonus spin meter 660 is decremented. Referring to FIG. 6K, thefourth bonus spin has been completed, and no additional bonus items651-657 are received. As there are no more bonus spins remaining on thebonus spin meter 660, the bonus event is complete and the sum of thecredits associated with the received bonus items 651-657 are awarded tothe player and are provided along with any awards associated with theevaluation of the first, second, and third poker hands 610, 612, 614,which is shown on the Paid meter 644.

FIGS. 7 and 11 are flow diagrams representing methods in which a gamingdevice and/or gaming system can be operated according to embodiments ofthe invention. Although various processes are shown in a particularorder in these flow diagrams, the order of these processes can bechanged in other embodiments without deviating from the scope or spiritof this concept. Hence, the order of the processes shown is forillustrative purposes only and is not meant to be restrictive.Additional game processes may also be included between various processeseven though they are not shown in these flow diagrams for claritypurposes. Further each of the processes may be performed by componentsin a single game device, such as by a game processor, or may beperformed in part or whole by a remote server or processor connected tothe gaming device via a network. Each process may be encoded ininstructions that are stored in a memory, a computer-readable medium, oranother type of storage device. Note that these example methods are justsome embodiments of how the steps of a game operation can beimplemented. As discussed and shown above, many variations exist whichmay require additional, fewer, or different processes to complete.

Referring to FIG. 7, flow 700 begins at process 710 where a signal isreceived indicating that a wager has been placed on a gaming event, andthe gaming event is initiated. As discussed above, the gaming event maybe a poker gaming event, or may be a different type of game of chance.In process 720, the game outcome for the gaming event is determined. Inprocess 730, it is determined if a bonus trigger is satisfied. In someembodiments, this determination includes whether a minimum number ofbonus items are received on a game grid based on the outcome of thegaming event. If the bonus event has not been triggered, flow 700proceeds to process 740 where any awards associated with the gameoutcome are provided to the player.

If a bonus event was triggered, as determined in process 730, flow 700proceeds to process 750 where the received bonus items on the bonus gridare locked relative to the card or game symbol position in the game gridwith which they are associated. In process 760, a bonus interval isdeducted. Here, if a bonus event is a singular event that sums orotherwise uses the values or modifiers associated with the receivedbonus items, process 760 merely specifies that the bonus event iscomplete for purposes of presenting bonus items. In other embodimentswith multiple chances and receiving additional bonus items or improvingupon the items currently received, this bonus interval may specify thenumber of changes available in the bonus event, the time in which thebonus event is active, the number of additional games played that thebonus event is active, or another metric reflecting opportunities inreceiving additional bonus items or improving upon bonus items that havealready been received.

In optional process 770, it is determined if something in the bonusevent has reset or increased the bonus interval. For example, asdiscussed above, receiving one or more additional bonus items may causethe bonus interval to reset. If the bonus interval is to be reset orincreased as determined in optional process 770, flow 700 proceeds tooptional process 775 to reset or increase the bonus interval beforereturning to process 750 where additional bonus items may randomly beassociated with positions or symbols in a game grid and locked intoplace. If optional process 770 is not utilized or if it is determined inprocess 770 that the bonus interval is not to be reset or increased,flow 700 proceeds to process 780 where it is determined if the bonusinterval is finished. For example, if the number of re-spins shown on abonus spin meter has reached zero. If the bonus interval has notfinished, flow 700 returns to process 750 where additional bonus itemsmay randomly be associated with positions or symbols in a game grid andlocked into place. If, on the other hand, the bonus interval is finishedas determined in process 780, flow 700 proceeds to process 790 whereawards associated with the received bonus items and any evaluation ofthe game grid are provided to the player.

FIGS. 8A and 8B are detail diagrams of a gaming device display showing agame progression according to embodiments of the invention. Referring toFIG. 8A, a gaming display 800 of a gaming device includes a game playarea showing a game grid of card positions that allow for presentationof virtual playing cards 820 in three poker hands 810, 812, 814, and auser interface or operations area that includes various meters andbuttons. Here, a first multiplier meter 830 is associated with the firstpoker hand, 810, a second multiplier meter 832 is associated with thesecond poker hand 812, and a third multiplier meter 834 is associatedthe third poker hand 814. The multiplier meters 830, 832, 834 in thisembodiment show multiplier values that can be won and used on a presentpoker game and used on the associated poker hand 810, 812, 814 in one ormore subsequent poker games if a bonus condition is satisfied, which inthis case is receiving four or more bonus dice items. In other pokergames, or other types of games of chance, the game play area and/or theplayer interface area may be different.

In this embodiment, dice sub-symbols 851, 852 are received and cantrigger a bonus event where they provide multipliers for a currentand/or for one or more subsequent poker gaming events. The player maylock and improve the number of sub-symbols present during a draw phaseof the poker game, or during a secondary bonus feature if a bonustrigger is satisfied.

Referring to FIG. 8B, the replacement cards after the draw are shown forthe first poker hand 810, second poker hand 812, and third poker hand814. Here, more than four bonus dice items 851, 852, 853, 854, 855 havebeen received, so the player is awarded a multiplier that is used tomultiply any wins in the current gaming event and can be used in asubsequent gaming event. Here, the combined number of pips displayed onbonus dice sub-symbols received for a particular poker hand will resultin multiplier that can be used for that current hand and in a subsequentpoker gaming event for that poker hand. Hence, as shown in FIG. 8B, thefirst multiplier meter 830 shows that the next game multiplier for thefirst poker hand 810 will be an “8×” since the player has received afirst bonus dice 851 showing a side with 3 pips and a second bonus dice852 showing a side with 5 pips. Similarly, the second multiplier metershows a “2×” associated with the bonus dice item 853 received in thesecond poker hand 812, and the third multiplier meter shows a “10×”associated with the bonus dice items 854, 855 received in the thirdpoker hand 814.

Since the bonus event was triggered here by receiving four or more bonusdice items 851-855, the player receives the bonus multipliers for thecurrent hands as well as for the next hands as indicated in themultiplier meters 830, 832, 834. In other embodiments, the bonus diceitems 851-855 may be locked and can be improved upon by the receipt ofadditional bonus dice items in subsequent poker games. In someembodiments, the multipliers shown on the multiplier meter may beaccumulated over multiplier poker games when triggered and then usedonly on the next poker game after the bonus event has ended. In otherembodiments, the multiplier values may be used on each poker hand inpoker gaming events until the bonus event ends.

FIGS. 9A, 9B, 9C, 9D, 9E, and 9F are detail diagrams of a gaming devicedisplay showing a game progression according to embodiments of theinvention. Referring to FIG. 9A, a gaming display 900 of a gaming deviceincludes a game play area showing a game grid of card positions thatallow for presentation of virtual playing cards 920 in poker hands 910,a game paytable 902, and a user interface or operations area 940. Theuser interface area 940 may include various meters and buttons, such asa “Credit” meter 942, a “Paid” indicator 944, a “Total Bet” meter orindicator 946, multiple “Hold” buttons 930 associated with the cardpositions of the poker hand 910, and a “Deal” or “Draw” button 948. Inother poker games, or other types of games of chance, the game play areaand/or the player interface area 940 may be different. Here, a wheelsub-symbol 950 can appear on one or more cards 920 where a wheel withcredit values, multipliers, or a bonus trigger appear on sections of thewheel. If the bonus trigger is received on the wheel, a secondary bonusfeature using a lock and improve (or hold and respin) may be used to tryand win progressive jackpot awards. As shown in FIG. 9A, a wheelsub-symbol 950 is received during a poker gaming event.

Referring to FIG. 9B, a bonus wheel 955 is displayed as a result of thereceiving the wheel sub-symbol 950 in the poker gaming event. Referringto FIG. 9C, the bonus wheel 955 is spun where a player can win bonuscredits, a bonus multiplier that can multiply any awards from theevaluated poker hand 910 in the current game (or in a subsequent pokergaming event), or a bonus slice that triggers a lock and re-spin bonus.Here, the bonus wheel 955 lands on the bonus slice. Thus, as shown inFIG. 9D, a lock and spin bonus is shown on the game display 900, thatincludes a bonus grid 980 and a bonus spin meter 960 showing the numberof remaining spins a player has. Referring to FIG. 9E, on the firstbonus spin the player receives two credit value items that are thenlocked on the bonus grid. In addition, the bonus spin meter 960 isdecremented. Referring to FIG. 9F, on the second bonus spin, the playerreceives two other bonus items including a “Mini Progressive” item and a“Reset” item, which resets the bonus spin meter 960 back to fiveremaining bonus games. Although this embodiment shows a wheel sub-symbolicon 950 triggering a bonus wheel 955 where the lock and re-spin bonuscould be won, other embodiments may use other mechanisms to award thesecond screen lock and re-spin bonus in a poker or other game of chance.

FIGS. 10A, 10B, 10C, 10D, 10E, 10F, 10G, 10H, and 10I are detaildiagrams of a gaming device display showing a game progression accordingto embodiments of the invention. FIGS. 10A-10I illustrate an exampleembodiment that is similar to the example embodiment illustrated inFIGS. 6A-6K except that the poker game shown in FIGS. 10A-10I holds thebonus items in card positions while the player continues to play andwager on poker base games during the bonus period. The bonus periodhere, is the period where the player can accumulate additional bonusitems. At the end of the bonus period, the player is awarded all of theaccumulated bonus items. Here, six or more bonus items need to bereceived in the 15 card positions to trigger the bonus event. In otherembodiments, more or less poker hands (such as five hands, ten hands, 50hands, 100 hands, etc.) could be played and/or more or less bonus itemsmay need to be received to trigger the lock and improve bonus feature.

Referring to FIG. 10A, a gaming display 1000 of a gaming device includesa game play area showing a game grid of card positions that allow forpresentation of virtual playing cards 1020 in three poker hands 1010,1012, 1014, and a user interface or operations area 1040. The userinterface area 1040 may include various meters and buttons, such as a“Credit” meter 1042, a “Paid” indicator 1044, a “Total Bet” meter orindicator 1046, multiple “Hold” buttons 1030 associated with the cardpositions of the poker hands 1010, 1012, 1014, and a “Deal” or “Draw”button 1048. In other poker games, or other types of games of chance,the game play area and/or the player interface area 1040 may bedifferent. In this embodiment, the first poker hand 1010 is the handwhere the initial cards 1020 are dealt. Thereafter, these initiallydealt cards 1020 can be held where the held cards are replicated in thesecond poker hand 1012 and third poker hand 1014, and then replacementcards and drawn for each non-held card in the first poker hand 1010 andfor the remaining card positions in the second poker hand 1012 and thirdpoker hand 1014. As shown in FIG. 10A, the player has received a bonusitem 1051 in the first poker hand 1010 based on the deal.

Referring to FIG. 10B, the player has held the 5 of Spades in the firstcard position and the 5 of Hearts in the third card position of thefirst poker hand 1010, and has activated the Draw button 1048. Here, thecards held in the first poker hand 1010 were replicated in theassociated card positions in the second poker hand 1012 and third pokerhand 1014. When the draw button 1048 is activated, it is determinedwhether any of the held cards that was not associated with a bonus item1051 are now associated with a bonus item. This is the case so that theplayer strategy in holding cards 1020 is not affected by which cards orcard positions are associate with bonus items 1051. In otherembodiments, additional bonus items may be revealed in the second orthird poker hand 1012, 1014 prior to holding cards in the first hand1010, or after the cards in the first hand have been held, but beforethe Draw button 1048 has been activated.

Referring to FIG. 10C, replacement cards have been provided to thenon-held positions in the first poker hand 1010, the second poker hand1012, and the third poker hand 1014. Note that the bonus item 1051 thatwas received on the deal was maintained with the card position after thedraw even though the card 1020 associated with that card position wasnot held. Note also, that even though the 5 of Spades in the first pokerhand 1010 has held and was not initially associated with a bonus item,it is now associated with a bonus item 1053 after the draw. In addition,four other bonus items 1052, 1054, 1055, 1056 are received in the secondor third poker hands 1012, 1014. As the total number of bonus items hasreached the predetermined number of six, a bonus event has beentriggered. As one of the bonus items 1052 specifies a Mini Progressiveaward, a progressive display 1002 is also shown. This progressivedisplay 1002 may be shown even when the bonus event is not active ortriggered.

Referring to FIG. 10D, a bonus spin meter 1060 is displayed to show thenumber of remaining bonus spins a player has in the bonus period toreceive additional bonus items 1051-1056. In this embodiment, the playerreceives three bonus spins to received additional bonus items 1051-1056,but the player may get additional opportunities to win bonus items asthe number of spins resets to three if a player receives one or moreadditional bonus items during a game event in the bonus period. As shownin FIG. 10D, the player has placed another wager on a second pokergaming event, but since the bonus period was triggered as previouslydiscussed, the bonus items 1051-1056 are locked in their respective cardpositions during the second poker gaming event.

Referring to FIG. 10E, cards 1020 are dealt to the first poker hand 1010in the second poker gaming event. Referring to FIG. 10F, cards have beenheld and replacement cards have been drawn to the complete the finalpoker hands for the first poker hand 1010, second poker hand 1012, andthird poker hand 1014. However, as no additional bonus items 1051-1056were received in the second poker gaming event, the number of remainingspins in the bonus spin meter 1060 is decremented.

Referring to FIG. 10G, the player has placed another wager on a thirdpoker gaming event, but since the bonus period has not yet ended, thebonus items 1051-1056 are locked in their respective card positionsduring the third poker gaming event. Referring to FIG. 10H, the resultof the third poker gaming event is shown on the game display 1010 and aseventh bonus item 1057 was received. Receiving this new bonus itemextends the bonus period by resetting the number of remaining games inthe bonus period to three on the bonus spin meter 1060.

Referring to FIG. 10I, a number of additional poker gaming events havebeen played during which the player received a number of additionalbonus items. However, as the number of remaining games on the bonus spinmeter 1060 is now at zero, the bonus period is over and the player inprovided all of the awards on the bonus items that were received duringthe bonus period. In this case, the player wins a large number ofcredits as shown on the Paid meter 1044. Since the bonus period is nowover, the locked bonus items will be removed when the next poker gamingevent is initiated.

FIG. 11 is a flow diagram showing a method of operating a gaming deviceaccording to embodiments of the invention. Referring to FIG. 11, flow1100 begins at process 1110 where a signal is received indicating that awager has been placed on a first gaming event, and the first gamingevent is initiated. As discussed above, the first gaming event may be apoker gaming event, or may be a different type of game of chance. Inprocess 1115, the game outcome for the first gaming event is determined.In process 1120, the outcome of the first gaming event is evaluated, andany awards associated with the first gaming event are provided to theplayer. In process 1125 it is determined if a bonus trigger issatisfied. In some embodiments, this determination includes whether aminimum number of bonus items are received on a game grid based on theoutcome of the first gaming event. If the bonus event has not beentriggered, flow 1100 returns to process 1110 to await placement ofanother wager on a different gaming event.

If a bonus event was triggered, as determined in process 1125, flow 1100proceeds to process 1130 where the received bonus items on the bonusgrid are locked relative to the card or game symbol position in the gamegrid with which they are associated. This begins the bonus period. Inprocess 1135, it is determined if a wager has been received to initiatethe next gaming event. Once the next gaming event has been triggered (inthis case the second gaming event), flow 1100 proceeds to process 1140to deduct or reduce the bonus interval (shown on a bonus spin meter orthe like) remaining in the bonus period. In process 1145, the gameoutcome for the next gaming event is determined.

In optional process 1150, it is determined if something in the bonusevent has reset or increased the bonus interval. For example, asdiscussed above, receiving one or more additional bonus items may causethe bonus interval to reset. If the bonus interval is to be reset orincreased as determined in optional process 1150, flow 1100 proceeds tooptional process 1155 to reset or increase the bonus interval. Anyawards are then paid for the current gaming event in optional process1160 before returning to process 1135 to wait for additional gamingevents to be wagered on and initiated.

If optional process 11500 is not utilized or if it is determined inprocess 1150 that the bonus interval is not to be reset or increased,flow 1100 proceeds to process 1170 where it is determined if the bonusinterval is finished. For example, if the number of remaining games inthe bonus period shown on a bonus spin meter has reached zero. If thebonus interval has not finished, flow 1100 proceeds to process 1180where any awards associated with the current game outcome are providedbefore returning to process 1135 to wait for additional gaming events tobe wagered on and initiated. If, on the other hand, the bonus intervalis finished as determined in process 1170, flow 1100 proceeds to process1190 where awards associated with the received bonus items and anyevaluation of the current gaming event are provided to the player.

FIG. 12 is a detail diagram of a gaming device display according toembodiments of the invention. Referring to FIG. 12, a gaming display1200 of a gaming device includes a game play area showing a game grid ofcard positions that allow for presentation of virtual playing cards 1220in poker hands 1210, a game paytable 1202, and a user interface oroperations area 1240. The user interface area 1240 may include variousmeters and buttons, such as a “Credit” meter 1242, a “Paid” indicator1244, a “Total Bet” meter or indicator 1246, multiple “Hold” buttons1230 associated with the card positions of the poker hand 1210, and a“Deal” or “Draw” button 1248. In other poker games, or other types ofgames of chance, the game play area and/or the player interface area1240 may be different. In this embodiment, sub-symbol items 1252, 1254can be associated with the playing cards 1220 or the card positions inthe game grid, where the cards are displayed in a poker hand 1210. Inthis embodiment, however, the player has to place a side wager or bonusbet to activate each of the card positions and be eligible to receiveawards associated with bonus items that are received in those particularcard locations. As shown in FIG. 12, the player has placed an additionalside wager to activate the first card position, the second cardposition, and the third card positions as indicated by the activationindicators 1280, but has not placed a sufficient side wager to activatethe fourth or fifth card position. Thus, when the player receives thesub-symbol item 1252 in the second card position, the player is awarded100 bonus credits since the second card position is activated. The othersub-symbol item 1254 received on the fourth card 1220, however, is notawarded to the player since the fourth card position has not beenactivated.

FIG. 13 is a detail diagram of a gaming device display according toembodiments of the invention. FIG. 13 illustrates an example embodimentthat uses similar rules to the example embodiment illustrated in FIG. 12except that the poker game shown in FIG. 13 is a multi-hand poker gamewhere 3 poker hands are played during a single game event. Here, six ormore bonus items need to be received in the 15 card positions to triggerthe bonus event. In other embodiments, more or less poker hands (such asfive hands, ten hands, 50 hands, 100 hands, etc.) could be played and/ormore or less bonus items may need to be received to trigger the lock andimprove bonus feature.

Referring to FIG. 13, a gaming display 1300 of a gaming device includesa game play area showing a game grid of card positions that allow forpresentation of virtual playing cards 1320 in three poker hands 1310,1312, 1314, and a user interface or operations area 1340. The userinterface area 1340 may include various meters and buttons, such as a“Credit” meter 1342, a “Paid” indicator 1344, a “Total Bet” meter orindicator 1346, multiple “Hold” buttons 1330 associated with the cardpositions of the poker hands 1310, 1312, 1314, and a “Deal” or “Draw”button 1348. In other poker games, or other types of games of chance,the game play area and/or the player interface area 1340 may bedifferent. In this embodiment, the first poker hand 1310 is the handwhere the initial cards 1320 are dealt. Thereafter, these initiallydealt cards 1320 can be held where the held cards are replicated in thesecond poker hand 1312 and third poker hand 1314, and then replacementcards and drawn for each non-held card in the first poker hand 1310 andfor the remaining card positions in the second poker hand 1312 and thirdpoker hand 1314. As shown in FIG. 13, the player has placed anadditional side wager to activate the first card column, the second cardcolumn, and the third card column as indicated by the activationindicators 1380, but has not placed a sufficient side wager to activatethe fourth or fifth card column. Thus, when the player receives thesub-symbol items 1352, 1353, 1354 in the first or second card columns,the player is awarded 825 bonus credits since these card columns areactivated. Sub-symbol items 1351, 1355, 1356, however, are not awardedto the player since the fourth and fifth card columns have not beenactivated.

The foregoing description of the exemplary embodiments has beenpresented for the purposes of illustration and description. It is notintended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise formdisclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in light ofthe above teaching. For example, the present invention is equallyapplicable in electronic or mechanical gaming machines, and is alsoapplicable to live table versions of gaming activities that are capableof being played in a table version (e.g., machines involving poker orcard games that could be played via table games).

Some embodiments of the invention have been described above, and inaddition, some specific details are shown for purposes of illustratingthe inventive principles. However, numerous other arrangements may bedevised in accordance with the inventive principles of this patentdisclosure. Further, well known processes have not been described indetail in order not to obscure the invention. Thus, while the inventionis described in conjunction with the specific embodiments illustrated inthe drawings, it is not limited to these embodiments or drawings.Rather, the invention is intended to cover alternatives, modifications,and equivalents that come within the scope and spirit of the inventiveprinciples set out above and in the appended claims.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A gaming device comprising: a displayincluding a video screen having a poker game play grid; a playerinterface including at least one button, the button configured togenerate a signal in response to being activated; a memory configured tostore a virtual deck of cards and a credit amount; a wager input devicestructured to receive physical items associated with currency values;and a processor operable to: receive a signal indicating receipt of aphysical item associated with a currency value; increase the creditamount stored in the memory based on the currency value associated withthe received physical item; receive a primary game initiation signalincluding a wager amount, the wager amount deducted from the creditamount stored in the memory; randomly deal an initial poker hand fromthe virtual deck of cards to the poker game play grid on the display;determine if any of the cards dealt to the initial poker hand areassociated with a bonus sub-symbol, each respective bonus sub-symbolassociated with a random credit value; lock the one or more bonussub-symbol relative to a respective card position on the poker game playgrid associated with the card having the bonus sub-symbol; receivesignals indicating cards to be held in the initial poker hand; randomlyprovide replacement cards from the virtual deck of cards to replace anycards in the initial poker hand that were not held to form a final pokerhand; evaluate the final poker hand for poker awards; when a number ofcards appearing in the final poker hand that are associated with a bonussub-symbol is greater than a predetermined threshold number, evaluatethe bonus sub-symbols appearing on the poker game play grid to determinea bonus award by summing the credit values associated with each bonussub-symbol associated with the cards in the final poker hand; andincrease the credit amount stored in the memory by any poker awards andbonus awards.
 2. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the processor isfurther operable to lock the bonus sub-symbols resulting from the finalpoker hand relative to respective card positions on the poker game playgrid associated with the cards having the bonus sub-symbols when thenumber of cards appearing in the final poker hand that are associatedwith a bonus sub-symbol is greater than the predetermined thresholdnumber.
 3. The gaming device of claim 2, wherein prior to evaluating thebonus sub-symbols appearing on the poker game play grid to determine abonus award, the processor is further operable to initiate a bonus gameby maintaining the locked bonus sub-symbols in their respective cardpositions on the poker game play grid and randomly determining whetherto mark one or more additional bonus sub-symbols in the card positionsthat do not include a previously locked bonus sub-symbol.
 4. The gamingdevice of claim 3, wherein the bonus game includes multiple rounds ofrandomly determining whether to mark one or more additional bonussub-symbols in the card positions that do not include a previouslylocked bonus sub-symbol.
 5. The gaming device of claim 4, wherein themultiple rounds continue until a new bonus sub-symbol is not receivedduring a round of the bonus game.
 6. The gaming device of claim 4,wherein the multiple rounds continue for a predetermined number ofrounds for the bonus game.
 7. The gaming device of claim 4, wherein anumber of remaining rounds is displayed on a bonus spin meter.
 8. Thegaming device of claim 7, wherein the number of remaining rounds isreset on the bonus spin meter to a predetermined starting number when anew bonus sub-symbol is received during a round of the bonus game.
 9. Agaming device comprising: a display including a video screen having apoker game play grid showing at least a first poker hand, a second pokerhand, and a third poker hand; a player interface including at least onebutton, the button configured to generate a signal in response to beingactivated; a memory configured to store a virtual deck of cards and acredit amount; a wager input device structured to receive physical itemsassociated with currency values; and a processor operable to: receive asignal indicating receipt of a physical item associated with a currencyvalue; increase the credit amount stored in the memory based on thecurrency value associated with the received physical item; receive aprimary game initiation signal including a wager amount, the wageramount deducted from the credit amount stored in the memory; randomlydeal cards from the virtual deck of cards to the first poker hand on thepoker game play grid of the display; receive signals indicating cards tobe held from the dealt cards in the first poker hand; copy any cardsheld in the first poker hand to associated card positions in the secondpoker hand and the third poker hand; randomly provide replacement cardsfrom the virtual deck of cards to replace any cards that were not heldin the first poker hand; randomly draw cards to complete any empty cardspots in the second poker hand and the third poker hand; determine anumber of virtual cards in the first poker hand, the second poker hand,and the third poker hand that are associated with bonus sub-symbols;when the determined number of bonus-sub symbols associated with cards inthe first poker hand, the second poker hand, and the third poker handthat are associated with bonus sub-symbols is greater than a predefinedthreshold, initiate a bonus feature where the bonus sub-symbols arelocked in their respective card positions, and a random determination ismade as to whether each of the remaining card positions is to beassociated with a bonus sub-symbol; evaluate the first poker hand, thesecond poker hand, and the third poker hand for poker awards; when thebonus feature was triggered, determine a final bonus award from thebonus sub-symbols; and increase the credit amount stored in the memoryby any poker awards and the bonus award.
 10. The gaming device of claim9, wherein each of the bonus sub-symbols is associated with a randomcredit value.
 11. The gaming device of claim 9, wherein each of thebonus sub-symbols is randomly associated with either a credit value or aprogressive meter indicator.
 12. The gaming device of claim 9, whereineach of the bonus sub-symbols is randomly associated with either acredit value or a multiplier value.
 13. The gaming device of claim 9,wherein the bonus feature includes multiple rounds of randomlydetermining whether to mark one or more additional bonus sub-symbols inthe card positions that do not include a previously locked bonussub-symbol.
 14. The gaming device of claim 13, wherein the multiplerounds continue until a new bonus sub-symbol is not received during around of the bonus game.
 15. The gaming device of claim 13, wherein themultiple rounds continue for a predetermined number of rounds for thebonus game.
 16. The gaming device of claim 13, wherein a number ofremaining rounds is displayed on a bonus spin meter.
 17. The gamingdevice of claim 16, wherein the number of remaining rounds is reset onthe bonus spin meter to a predetermined starting number when a new bonussub-symbol is received during a round of the bonus game.
 18. A gamingdevice comprising: a game display including a video screen having apoker game play grid showing at least a first poker hand, a second pokerhand, and a third poker hand; a player interface including at least onebutton, the button configured to generate a signal in response to beingactivated; a memory configured to store a virtual deck of cards and acredit amount; a wager input device structured to receive physical itemsassociated with currency values; and a processor operable to: receive asignal indicating receipt of a physical item associated with a currencyvalue; increase the credit amount stored in the memory based on thecurrency value associated with the received physical item; receive aprimary game initiation signal including a wager amount, the wageramount deducted from the credit amount stored in the memory; randomlydeal cards from the virtual deck of cards to the first poker hand on thepoker game play grid of the display; receive signals indicating cards tobe held from the dealt cards in the first poker hand; copy any cardsheld in the first poker hand to associated card positions in the secondpoker hand and the third poker hand; randomly provide replacement cardsfrom the virtual deck of cards to replace any cards that were not heldin the first poker hand; randomly draw cards to complete any empty cardspots in the second poker hand and the third poker hand; determine anumber of virtual cards in the first poker hand, the second poker hand,and the third poker hand that are associated with bonus sub-symbols;when the determined number of bonus-sub symbols associated with cards inthe first poker hand, the second poker hand, and the third poker handthat are associated with bonus sub-symbols is greater than a predefinedthreshold, initiate a bonus feature that includes: (a) initialize abonus spin meter with a predetermined starting number of bonus spins,the bonus spin meter being displayed on the gaming display and showing anumber of currently remaining bonus spins; (b) lock the bonussub-symbols in their respective card positions; (c) randomly determinewhether each of the remaining card positions is to be associated with abonus sub-symbol; (d) decrement the number of currently remaining bonusspins shown on the bonus spin meter; and (e) repeat processes (b), (c),and (d) until the number of currently remaining bonus spins is zero;evaluate the first poker hand, the second poker hand, and the thirdpoker hand for poker awards; when the bonus feature was triggered,determine a final bonus award from the bonus sub-symbols; and increasethe credit amount stored in the memory by any poker awards and the bonusaward.
 19. The gaming device of claim 18, wherein process (d) of thebonus feature includes resetting the number of currently remaining bonusspins shown on the bonus spin meter to the predetermined starting numberof bonus spins when a new one of the remaining card positions israndomly associated with a bonus sub-symbol, and decrementing the numberof currently remaining bonus spins shown on the bonus spin meter when noadditional ones of the remaining card positions are randomly associatedwith a bonus sub-symbol in process (c).
 20. The gaming device of claim19, wherein each of the bonus sub-symbols is randomly associated witheither a credit value or a progressive meter indicator.